Round 23: Collingwood 76 Fremantle 67

THE FACTS

COLLINGWOOD    3.2.20   6.3.39   8.8.56   11.10.76
FREMANTLE          5.2.32   6.6.42   8.8.56    9.13.67

GOALS - Collingwood: Mihocek 3, Stephenson 2, Pendlebury, Adams, Phillips, Thomas, Crisp, Cox

 BEST - Collingwood: Mihocek, Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Adams, Maynard, Grundy

INJURIES - Collingwood: Hoskin-Elliott (knee)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD - 41,320 at Perth Stadium

TALKING POINTS

1. Magpie in trouble for ump bump? It will be interesting to see what the match review officer makes of a second-quarter incident that saw field umpire Robert O'Gorman dumped to the ground. Nat Fyfe collided heavily with the man in fluoro green but it was Magpie Brayden Maynard who shoved Fyfe into the ump. Maynard's push was in retaliation for Fyfe pushing one of his mates over. Real schoolboy stuff, but will there be consequences for the Magpie? 2. Rookie recruit delivers the goods for Pies Collingwood is back in the top four for the first time since 2012. And the Pies can thank big Brody Mihocek for getting the chocolates in Perth. Three second-half goals, two of them in 30 seconds midway through the final term, proved critical. Particularly with star forward Jordan De Goey well held by Joel Hamling. Mihocek definitely looks the type who can have an impact in September. A solid record interstate has also played a part. The Pies have managed wins over Fremantle, Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast and a two-point loss against Sydney. As much as Pies' fans might have had their hearts in mouths for much of the game, it could prove to be the perfect preparation for a tough finals series. 3. Freo's Lyon-hearts come to play Fremantle coach Ross Lyon, backed by his club, hung tough as the outrage from the disaster at Geelong reached fever pitch last week. The terrible round 22 effort, Fremantle's average losing margin – 54 points – the worst in the AFL; the Dockers' match average of just 70 points per game; the worst scoring season in club history – it was all set up for a Pie shellacking. But, to borrow the greatest cliché of all “a week's a long time in football”. There were signs this would not be an easy kill. At Optus Stadium this season the Dockers were 7-5, kicking 80 points per game. And the Magpies had lost five of their past six in Perth. While the Dockers didn't get the points, they showed plenty for their fans as they head into pre-season. 4. Goodbye MJ Michael Johnson's 244th match in purple was his last and captain Fyfe vowed the club would show just how much they loved him against the Magpies. Joel Hamling didn't read the script when he floated a pass meant for Johnson out on the full early on. And the umps didn't have a lot of love for MJ either when they didn't believe he'd touched the resultant snap from Tom Phillips. Nor did Chris Mayne when he dug his knee into Johnson's buttock and sent him from the field briefly in the opening term. But his day improved from there and he would have been proud of his finale. Danyle Pearce also retired but wasn't at the ground because he was playing WAFL, while fellow retiree Lee Spurr was there in his suit to say goodbye. 5. The streak is over After conceding 23 goals in a row to finish the match against Geelong in round 22, Fremantle let in the first three to take the streak to 26 but when the Dockers hit back, they hit back hard. They booted the last five goals of the first term to take a 12-point lead to quarter-time and, believe it or not, got a standing ovation from a fair few Dockers supporters at the first change. Hayden Ballantyne's four-goal return also gave the fans something to cheer about.

THE MEDIA

SUPERFOOTY COLLINGWOOD dodged a purple bullet to seal a top-four spot. Fremantle led by 15 points at the 20-minute mark of the second term, and still held an eight-point lead early in the final quarter when Hayden Ballantyne ran 60m to score his fourth goal. But Collingwood lifted when it mattered most, with Brody Mihocek booting two goals within the space of a minute to take the lead. Ironically, after a week in which Magpies defender Sam Murray’s drug bombshell made headlines, it was Josh Thomas — caught himself by ASADA three years ago — who came up with the sealer in the final two minutes. The Magpies could have slid to as low as sixth if they had lost. But the win means Collingwood will now finish fourth at worst, and possibly as high as second if West Coast loses to Brisbane on Sunday. Pies skipper Scott Pendlebury is looking forward to the week off before finals. “I love it because it means we’re playing finals, and we haven’t been there since the week off’s been in,” he told Fox Footy after the siren. “We’ll take it and get ready for the first final.” Pendlebury reserved special praise for Mihocek, who played as a key defender in Port Melbourne’s 2017 premiership team and was recruited from the VFL in the rookie draft. “He’s been unreal all year. The funny thing is he came in as a defender. He’s kicked 20-odd goals for the eyar and he gives us such a presence forward of the ball. He’s incredibly smart football-wise and it’s a credit to him for sticking at it for so long, and he’s finally got his chance.” Eyeing their first top-eight scalp of one of the season, Fremantle gave itself every chance before falling short by nine points, 11.10 (76) to 9.13 (67). In some ways this game summed up the Dockers under Lyon. The home side was willing and committed and their forward pressure at times was fanatical. But skill errors hurt, especially some shoddy kicks inside 50 after a power of work had been done to create that opportunity. The poor kicking continued in the last quarter and ultimately sabotaged Fremantle’s bid for what would have been a memorable upset. The Dockers could manage only 1.5 in the final term. Brennan Cox took a fantastic strong mark with three minutes on the clock and the Dockers trailing by four points and sent his set shot out on the full. Former Docker Chris Mayne finished goalless from just nine touches was jeered and his missed shots on goal were cheered. However, he will be happy in the knowledge that he will now move onto a final while his former teammates take an early holiday. Mayne will feature on the September stage for the first time since Fremantle’s 2015 preliminary final loss to Hawthorn which brought the curtain down on their successful era. The Dockers had escaped Geelong’s weather but the sunny conditions didn’t bring any respite on the scoreboard initially. The Pies kicked three goals in the first five minutes in a super start to of the match, extending the run of majors conceded by Fremantle to 26 after the Cats piled on the last 23 goals in last weekend’s drubbing. Ballantyne broke the streak when he converted from the goalsquare 16 minutes into the first term. Second-gamer Sam Switkowski kicked the first goal of his career and David Mundy, Nat Fyfe and Matt Taberner added goals of their own to give the Dockers a 12-point quarter-time lead. Collingwood made the most of its chances in the second term and Fremantle didn’t. The Magpies added 3.1 and the Dockers 1.4 and Switkowski’s out on the full from a set shot was the worst waste of all. Rising Star favourite Jaidyn Stephenson emerged, kicking the first and last goals of the quarter. The teams added two goals apiece in the third stanza to leave scores level at the final change. Ballantyne has long been the fuse that sets the purple army alight and his running goal midway through the term, his third for the game, was a highlight. It was meant to be the beginning of something special for the home side. It turned out to be the last goal the Dockers would score. At the other end was another unlikely hero in black and white. Mihocek, recruited as a defender from the VFL in last year’s rookie draft, kicked his second and third goals in the space of a minute to take back the lead. It was a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. AFL COLLINGWOOD survived a major scare from an emotion-charged Fremantle, locked in a top-four spot and kept hopes of hosting a qualifying final alive with a nailbiting nine-point victory at Optus Stadium on Saturday. Trailing the fired-up Dockers by 15 points midway through the second term and with scores level at the final change, the Magpies were staring at the prospect of a cutthroat elimination final. But as they have done all season in the face of adversity, Nathan Buckley's injury-hit men found a way. Mature-age rookie Brody Mihocek was the hero, booting two clutch goals midway through the final term to put the Pies in front by four points. Brennan Cox had the chance to wrestle back the lead for Freo with three minutes remaining but hooked his 50m set shot out on the full. Collingwood swept the ball forward and Josh Thomas to kick the sealer from a Nathan Wilson turnover with less than two minutes to play, sending the Pies supporters into raptures. The Dockers will be kicking themselves after booting 1.5 in the final term and falling to a 11.10 (76) to 9.13 (67) defeat. Collingwood finished the match in third but have put pressure on West Coast to knock over the Lions in Brisbane on Sunday, with a loss likely to send the second-placed Eagles tumbling into an away qualifying final. Hawthorn could also leapfrog Collingwood and West Coast into second with victory against the Swans at the SCG on Saturday night. But the Magpies have at least guaranteed themselves the double chance in finals after winning 15 games – their most since 2012. They can expect reinforcements in September, and will likely need them after only beating one other finals-bound outfit, Melbourne, this season, but Buckley was confident they could do some damage. "We think our best footy stacks up and we are not afraid of anyone we’re going to play," he said. "It's either Richmond, Hawthorn or West Coast in the mix for our first final. "We definitely won't be approaching that with anything but full confidence that we can get the job done. "We have attacked and been aggressive and chased our best form, improved football, the opposition - all season. So we're not going to stop now." Collingwood made hard work of seeing off the under-pressure Dockers, who were coming off one of the darkest days in club history at Geelong last round. A response was expected following a 133-point humiliation and, despite a slow start, Fremantle lifted considerably for champion defender Michael Johnson's farewell game. Including last round's debacle, Fremantle had conceded 26 unanswered goals after Collingwood piled on three unanswered majors in the opening five minutes on Saturday. But the home side clicked into gear and produced some of the best football played by a team in purple for months. A five-goal burst before quarter-time – highlighted by Sam Switkowski's first goal and an audacious Matt Taberner soccer – turned the contest on its head. The Dockers dominated the second term and were keeping the ball off the Pies, the No.1 possession team in the competition, but couldn't put the score on the board. Steadying late goals from Scott Pendlebury and NAB AFL Rising Star favourite Jaidyn Stephenson reduced the margin to just three points at the long break. The third quarter was an arm-wrestle and the Dockers looked good things when veteran Hayden Ballantyne ran into an open goal for his fourth major early in the final term, but the Pies stormed home for a crucial triumph. Midfield stars Steele Sidebottom (31 disposals) and Pendlebury (30, one goal) were influential all game, but especially when the contest was on the line. Mihocek finished with three majors. Brodie Grundy (24 disposals, 34 hit-outs) had Freo youngster Sean Darcy's (35 hit-outs) measure around the ground but they fought an even battle in the ruck, with Freo just edging clearances (36-32). Bradley Hill (35 disposals, 10 inside 50s) played his best game for the season for the Dockers, Taylin Duman (24) showed plenty in defence alongside Joel Hamling and Lachie Neale (34, one goal) rounded out an excellent campaign, but it wasn't enough to get Freo home. Speaking after the game, coach Ross Lyon was pleased the Dockers dug in to send Johnson off with a fighting effort, on a day when retired defender Lee Spurr was also farewelled at the ground. "I haven't thought about it in too much regard to last week, if you keep looking backwards it's not good but … I didn't think last week was typical of our year," Lyon said. "When you've got retiring players, you want the effort to be commensurate with the esteem you hold them in. "It's not about whether you win or lose, but we certainly ticked that box with our effort." MEDICAL ROOM Collingwood: Chris Mayne received treatment during the first quarter, but he returned before quarter-time. Jack Madgen was bleeding profusely from his head and came off for attention just before the opening change. NEXT UP The Pies will wait to see if they have to travel back to Perth for a qualifying final against West Coast, or play at the MCG – either as host or away – to Richmond or Hawthorn. REAL FOOTY Collingwood’s nail-biting nine-point win over Fremantle was enough to guarantee the Magpies a top-four finish. But for most of the game, it looked like they had blown their chance to confirm their double chance in the finals. Still, if Brisbane can upset West Coast at the Gabba on Sunday, the Magpies can pinch second spot and earn a home game in the first week of the finals. Even if that happens, there remain some serious questions about Collingwood’s ability to have an impact in September. It took two goals from Brody Mihocek in the final quarter to keep the Magpies in a contest they would have expected to win comfortably. And only a Josh Thomas goal with less than two minutes to go, after a Nathan Wilson turnover, handed the Magpies victory. That Thomas goal came only a couple of minutes after Dockers captain Nat Fyfe missed a shot at goal from about 35 metres that would have given his side back the lead. The way the Magpies struggled to shake off Fremantle before stealing the 11.10 (76) to 9.13 (67) victory at Optus Stadium is not the way Nathan Buckley would want to go in to the finals – regardless of which of their injured stars they get back. That Dockers side had 23 consecutive goals kicked against them by Geelong a week earlier and lost by a club record 133 points. It was fair to expect some sort of fight back by Fremantle after that embarrassing loss to the Cats. But the Magpies kicked the first three goals of the game and led by 19 points after just five minutes of the opening bounce. With second spot in their sight, that should have been the catalyst for a comfortable win for Collingwood, who are heading into their first finals campaign since 2013. But from there, kicking goals became a struggle. Joel Hamling gave Jordan De Goey a hard time, the latter finishing with 0.1 from four shots on goal. Jaidyn Stephenson also found it tough to get free, although his two goals in the second term would prove important. He could have started what could be a good week for the youngster, with the All-Australian and Rising Star announcements, with a bag of goals. But he wasted that chance. The Dockers are a different side at home and may have been saying farewell to one of their stalwarts, Michael Johnson, but they were chasing just their ninth win from their disappointing season – and only their third since the round 14 bye. Yet scores were level at three-quarter-time, which the statistics show would make life difficult for the Dockers, who had won only four final terms this season. Lachie Neale, Ed Langdon and Bradley Hill were able to get their hands on the footy – collecting 101 possessions between them. Neale also managed nine clearances on the back of strong ruck work by young big man Sean Darcy. The pace of Hayden Ballantyne caused the Pies defence issues too. Just a week after signing a contract extension, the veteran booted four goals. His fourth gave his side an eight-point lead with just 14 minutes to go in the game. That was the Dockers’ last goal. Scott Pendlebury had a big final quarter, with eight touches out of 30 for the game and three clearances. Steele Sidebottom also had 31 touches and his crisp ball handling was important. The win over Fremantle doesn’t change the other lingering doubt hanging over Collingwood’s premiership credentials — that they will enter the finals series having beaten only one of the sides they will meet. Of the other seven sides who will continue beyond this weekend, the Magpies beat only Melbourne and that was way back in round 12. And their performance in their first game at Optus Stadium would not have them oozing confidence should they be forced to return to the venue in the first week of the finals to play the Eagles.